Ambria's Adventures

Some trips you plan. Others sneak up on you when you’re least expecting them. Ten days from now, I’ll be boarding a plane to Paris, France—something I never imagined when this year began. The whole thing started with a casual conversation with a guy I met in Spain a couple of years ago. We were catching up, and he mentioned he’d just come back from Cambodia and was heading to Europe. Then, almost offhandedly, he said, “I’ve got an extra ticket to Rock en Seine. Want it?” At first, I laughed. It sounded so spontaneous, so unlike the version of me who’s been stuck in a rut lately. But then the idea started to glow in my mind. Paris. Music. A handsome, kind man. Why not? After all, I’ve been feeling stagnant these past few weeks—like I’m stuck in a holding pattern, unsure what’s next. Being laid off back in April has left me scrolling through job boards, not feeling excited about much. This trip suddenly became the thing I could hang some hope on. And then… another thought snuck in. For y...

Day 4 - Portland, Columbia River Gorge, Seattle (4h 35m, 270 miles) After a night of rest and relaxation in Portland, it was time to hit the road again. However, it was also the 4 th of July, and my friend and I thought it would be more fun in a city, so we decided to spend the night in Seattle, Washington. Looking back, this was not the best option for us. While we did find a nice hotel at a reasonable price, it was so close to Portland that we definitely did not get enough mileage in. On top of that, most things in Seattle were closed anyway because of the pandemic. If I could do it again, I’d make a stop to get some coffee, check out the wharf, the gum wall, and probably be on my way. Anywho, before we left Oregon, we wanted to check out some views outside of the city and made our way to the Columbia River Gorge. Crown Point offered spectacular scenes of the gorge and forest, even on a cloudy day.  From there, we jumped on the Historic Columbia River Highway to do some wate...

My plan for the summer of 2020 was to be on the coast of Italy, meeting up with some travel friends for an all-girls trip. We came up with the idea around November 2019, but as COVID-19 hit and became increasingly powerful, it was clear that the trip was off.  I was pretty lucky to be spending the pandemic in beautiful Hawaii. Once people were discouraged from coming to the islands, things got pretty loose. While social distancing and wearing masks were encouraged, we weren't as restricted as other places on the mainland or other countries. I can see how I was a brat for complaining when in reality, I could still do many hikes, see friends (in groups of 10 or less), and visit the beaches I loved. Regardless, I had the summer off from work, and I was hoping to go somewhere new.  Since international travel was not likely to happen, I decided to visit friends and family on the mainland. I ended up talking to a girlfriend in Las Vegas who was also upset about the change in her pla...

My second trip to Bangkok, Thailand, occurred when some travel friends decided to plan our New Year's party there to bring in 2020 (before anyone knew what a disaster the year would be). We, as a group, love to celebrate the new year in different locations around the world. Sadly, this was the first time our group split up and went to various places. My first trip to Bangkok was a few months earlier, so I was less excited about the location, but I looked forward to seeing my friends.   After 3 layovers and several hours, I landed at BKK airport close to 1am on December 30th. Luckily, 2 fellow traveling friends had stayed awake, and the plan was for me to crash with them until I could check in to my hotel room. Despite the long hours of traveling, I didn't go to sleep right away. Three of us sat and tried to catch up on the years that had passed since we last saw each other in person, Istanbul for one friend, and the other was one I had never met in real life up to that time. A...

One of the best ways for my friends and me to pre-game in Waikiki was by taking a quick, semi-scenic trip off the beach on a fun and friendly booze cruise. There are a few options, but the one I always ended up taking was the Na Hoku II (http://nahokuiiandmanukai.com/wp/) behind the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki. You can call and make reservations for your group or take your chances and hang out near the area around the times they ship out (late morning, afternoon, and early evening). The prices change a bit according to the time of day. It was $35 per person when I last went on this trip, but the price may have gone up since then.  The best part about taking this short cruise is that you can sit and relax with your friends while having as many drinks as you can (all drink costs are covered with the entry fee). There are a variety of mixed drinks, along with Coors Light and PBR beers, and some non-alcoholic beverages available. And don't worry! There are bathrooms below deck....

The infamous Stairway to Heaven. Loved by many, hated by residents. I actually did this hike as a result of a Tinder date. I was talking with a guy who lived very close to my school, so I agreed to meet him after class. There weren't any major sparks from either party, but we did have quite a bit in common and decided to be friends, without saying so directly.  After our lunch and some drinks, he began asking about the hike, and I told him what I'd heard, although I never did it. We ended up making plans to do the hike that day... well, in the wee hours of the next morning.  As I went home to prepare, I instantly regretted agreeing to this. I was pretty drunk and not in the mood to dodge security and climb up thousands of wobbly steps. But I wasn't going to be the one to back out of it, and neither was he. We met back up, gathered some extra supplies, and made our way up to the neighborhood where the trail begins.  Right as we were beginning, it started raining! I too...